The story of David, a lonely young man unable to communicate with his family and friends, illustrates the suffering of isolation and the transformative power of mindfulness. After losing his companion Angelina due to his anger and inability to listen, David is saved from despair by remembering a temple teaching on restoring communication through three kinds of incense:

1. The incense of the precepts or mindfulness trainings
2. The incense of concentration
3. The incense of understanding or wisdom
   By practicing these, he recognizes his past behavior, reconciles with his family, and restores his relationship.

The sixteen exercises of mindful breathing proposed by the Buddha are reviewed to guide practitioners in working with the body, feelings, and mind:

1. In/out (xuất tức nhập tức)
2. Long/short (trường đoản)
3. Aware of body (toàn thân giác tri)
4. Relaxing body (toàn thân hữu tức)
5. Feeling joy (hỷ giác tri)
6. Feeling happiness (lạc giác tri)
7. Aware of feeling (thọ giác tri)
8. Calming the feeling (thọ hữu tức)
9. Aware of mental formations (tâm giác tri)
10. Gladdening the mind (tâm duyệt giác tri)
11. Concentrating the mind (tâm định)
12. Liberating the mind (tâm giải thoát)
13. Contemplation on impermanence (quán vô thường)
14. Concentration on non-craving (quán vô dục)
15. Concentration on extinction (quán tịch diệt)
16. Concentration on letting go (quán phóng xả)

Special attention is given to gladdening the mind by watering positive seeds like love, forgiveness, and joy in ourselves and others. Concentration acts like a lens, focusing the mind to burn afflictions and bring about the insight that leads to true liberation. Ultimately, happiness is found not in acquiring things, but in the capacity of letting go of our ideas and attachments.